Major power outage in Spain and Portugal knocks out subway networks, traffic lights and ATM machines

By RENATA BRITO and BARRY HATTON Associated Press BARCELONA Spain AP A blackout brought much of Spain and Portugal to a standstill Monday halting subway and railway trains cutting phone operation and shutting down traffic lights and ATM machines for the million people who live across the Iberian Peninsula Spanish power distributor Red El ctrica announced that restoring power fully to the country and neighboring Portugal could take - hours By mid-afternoon voltage was progressively being restored in the north south and west of the peninsula the company stated Spectators roam inside the Madrid Open tennis tournament venue during a general blackout in Madrid Monday April AP Photo Manu Fernandez The Madrid Open tennis tournament venue is empty during a general blackout in Madrid Monday April AP Photo Manu Fernandez The Madrid Open tennis tournament venue is empty during a general blackout in Madrid Monday April AP Photo Manu Fernandez Spectators walk out of the Madrid Open tennis tournament venue during a general blackout in Madrid Monday April AP Photo Manu Fernandez People check their mobile phones as they stand outside a closed subway station following a power outage in Lisbon Portugal Monday April AP Photo Armando Franca Traffic lights stopped working following a power outage in downtown Lisbon Portugal Monday April AP Photo Armando Franca People climb stairs in Lisbon old centre after the escalator stopped working following a power outage Monday April AP Photo Armando Franca Motorists drive past traffic lights that stopped working following a power outage in downtown Lisbon Portugal Monday April AP Photo Armando Franca People fail to board a crowded bus after the subway stopped running following a power outage in Lisbon Portugal Monday April AP Photo Armando Franca Show Caption of Spectators roam inside the Madrid Open tennis tournament venue during a general blackout in Madrid Monday April AP Photo Manu Fernandez Expand The company declined to speculate on the causes of the huge blackout The Portuguese National Cybersecurity Center issued a declaration saying there was no sign the outage was due to a cyberattack Eduardo Prieto head of operations at Red El ctrica stated journalists it was unprecedented calling the event exceptional and extraordinary Spanish and Portuguese capitals among affected areas The outage hit across Spain and Portugal including their capitals Madrid and Lisbon Offices closed and traffic was snarled as traffic lights stopped working It was not achievable to make calls on particular mobile phone networks though selected apps were working In Barcelona residents walked into stores searching for battery-powered radios and civilians directed traffic at junctions along the Gran Via avenue that cuts through the city The countries have a combined population of over million people It was not at once clear how multiple were affected It is rare to have such a widespread outage across the Iberian Peninsula Officials reported the cause was not forthwith known though one Portuguese official declared the difficulty appeared to be with the electricity distribution system in Spain Spanish Prime Minister Pedro S nchez convened an extraordinary meeting of Spain s National Guard Council and visited Red El ctrica to follow efforts at restoring grid operations Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro announced he has spoken several times to Sanchez and expected power to be restored by the end of the day The Portuguese Cabinet convened an exigency meeting at the prime minister s residence Portugal s establishment stated the outage appeared to stem from problems outside the country an official stated national news agency Lusa It looks like it was a challenge with the distribution structure apparently in Spain It s still being ascertained Cabinet Minister Leit o Amaro was quoted as saying Portuguese distributor E-Redes declared the outage was due to a dilemma with the European electricity system according to Portuguese newspaper Expresso The company reported it was compelled to cut power in specific areas to stabilize the configuration according to Expresso The outage hit just after midday Spain s society broadcaster RTVE declared a major power outage hit several regions of the country just after midday local time leaving its newsroom Spain s parliament in Madrid and subway stations across the country in the dark A graph on Spain s electricity organization website showing demand across the country indicated a steep drop around p m from MW to near MW Spanish airports were operating on backup electrical systems and several flights were delayed according to Aena the company that runs airports in Spain including Madrid and Barcelona In Lisbon terminals closed and throngs of tourists sat outside in the sun and the shade waiting for news about their flights We haven t seen any plane arriving or departing in the minutes we ve been waiting here Dutch tourist Marc Brandsma recounted The Associated Press Train services in both countries ground to a halt Video aired on Spanish television indicated people evacuating metro stations in Madrid and empty stations with trains stopped in Barcelona The Spanish Parliament in Madrid closed and play at the Madrid Open tennis tournament was suspended Three matches were underway when power went down Spain s traffic department urged citizens to avoid using their cars as much as achievable due to the power outage which has affected traffic lights and electrical road signage Barcelona s streets filled with throngs of people on sidewalks milling about in front of darkened stores and offices and exchanging information on what had happened The hunt for connectivity Immediate concerns were which phone companies still had certain at least spotty coverage or where internet access might be revealed Another concern was how to get home with the subway shut and community buses packed Various took advantage of the lack of connectivity and delivery to enjoy the sunshine on restaurant terraces In Terrassa an industrial town kilometers miles from Barcelona stores selling generators were out of stock after people lined up to buy them In Portugal a country of specific million people the outage hit Lisbon and surrounding areas as well as northern and southern parts Portuguese police placed more officers on duty to direct traffic and cope with increased requests for help including from people trapped in elevators Hospitals and other exigency services in both Spain and Portugal switched to generators Gas stations stopped working Portugal s National Authority for Emergencies and Civil Protection explained backup power systems were operating Several Lisbon subway cars were evacuated reports revealed Also in Portugal courts stopped work and ATMs and electronic payment systems were affected Hatton communicated from Lisbon Portugal Joe Wilson in Barcelona contributed